Funniest thing you have heard from customs upon reentering your home country?
Jul 11, 2013, 11:57 pm
#138
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
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Posts: 14,222
One more time for me .. not my home country but..
My husband and I were leaving New Zealand after I had completed the Routebourn Track hike. The officials were examining my hiking boots and asking questions about what we had done. He then mentioned that there were only one pair of hiking boots and wanted to see the other pair. He then took a look at my husband, who is not in the greatest shape, and said, I guess he didnt go hiking with you, did he?
My husband and I were leaving New Zealand after I had completed the Routebourn Track hike. The officials were examining my hiking boots and asking questions about what we had done. He then mentioned that there were only one pair of hiking boots and wanted to see the other pair. He then took a look at my husband, who is not in the greatest shape, and said, I guess he didnt go hiking with you, did he?
Jan 16, 2014, 7:04 am
#140
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
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Posts: 33,857
I flew back into MIA last month and they were having everyone go to the Global Entry Kiosks (don't ask me why, maybe because the joint was empty). Having never done it before, I got my ticket and went up to a CBP Officer
CBP Officer: What are you doing here?
Me: Oh well I just got back from three days in Nicaragua
CBP Officer: No, what are you doing in front of me? Unless this ticket has an X on it you don't talk to an officer
Me: Oh. Well, in that case, can I have a Passport stamp?
CBP Officer: What are you doing here?
Me: Oh well I just got back from three days in Nicaragua
CBP Officer: No, what are you doing in front of me? Unless this ticket has an X on it you don't talk to an officer
Me: Oh. Well, in that case, can I have a Passport stamp?
Jan 16, 2014, 10:02 am
#141
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP, UA Gold
Posts: 29
Early December, my teammates and I just got back to ORD from DOH via LHR after being in Doha for a bowling tournament. We got all of our suitcases and bowling balls on a luggage cart. Had to be around 18 bowling balls and a couple suitcases. The customs agent looked over out luggage cart (as bowling bags have a unique shape and size)
Guy: "What were you doing in wherever the hell you came from?"
After a long trip, it was kind of funny getting that type of response.
Sidenote, the instant we got out of our cab at our apartment, a drooling homeless person came up and asked us for some change. That didnt take long.
Guy: "What were you doing in wherever the hell you came from?"
After a long trip, it was kind of funny getting that type of response.
Sidenote, the instant we got out of our cab at our apartment, a drooling homeless person came up and asked us for some change. That didnt take long.
Jan 16, 2014, 10:17 am
#142
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,057
the instant we got out of our cab at our apartment, a drooling homeless person came up and asked us for some change. That didnt take long.
Jan 16, 2014, 2:14 pm
#144
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
I flew back into MIA last month and they were having everyone go to the Global Entry Kiosks (don't ask me why, maybe because the joint was empty). Having never done it before, I got my ticket and went up to a CBP Officer
CBP Officer: What are you doing here?
Me: Oh well I just got back from three days in Nicaragua
CBP Officer: No, what are you doing in front of me? Unless this ticket has an X on it you don't talk to an officer
Me: Oh. Well, in that case, can I have a Passport stamp?
CBP Officer: What are you doing here?
Me: Oh well I just got back from three days in Nicaragua
CBP Officer: No, what are you doing in front of me? Unless this ticket has an X on it you don't talk to an officer
Me: Oh. Well, in that case, can I have a Passport stamp?
Jan 16, 2014, 6:27 pm
#145
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SJC/SFO
Posts: 373
When departing DUB for the US, US customs and immigration is handled in DUB before you board the plane.
CBP agent looks at my (non-Irish, but EU) passport. He can't find a US visa, so he pulls out a piece of paper that lists all nationalities that can enter the US without a visa. He seemingly can't find my country listed.
CBP: "Are you sure you don't need a visa?"
Me: "Positive."
CBP: (looking at the list in his hand) "This is old".
He crumbles the visa-waiver list and throws it away. Then he walks to the neighboring booth and pulls out the same piece of paper there, looks at it, crumbles it and throws it away: "This is old, too".
CBP: "What is the purpose of your visit?"
Me: "Business".
CBP: "What kind of business?"
Me: "I work for Google, I am attending some business meetings".
CBP: "Google, ah yes, I can Google it".
He then does a Google search, finds the Department of State web page that lists the countries that participate in the visa waiver program, finds my home country listed, stamps my passport and hands it back to me: "Have a nice flight".
CBP agent looks at my (non-Irish, but EU) passport. He can't find a US visa, so he pulls out a piece of paper that lists all nationalities that can enter the US without a visa. He seemingly can't find my country listed.
CBP: "Are you sure you don't need a visa?"
Me: "Positive."
CBP: (looking at the list in his hand) "This is old".
He crumbles the visa-waiver list and throws it away. Then he walks to the neighboring booth and pulls out the same piece of paper there, looks at it, crumbles it and throws it away: "This is old, too".
CBP: "What is the purpose of your visit?"
Me: "Business".
CBP: "What kind of business?"
Me: "I work for Google, I am attending some business meetings".
CBP: "Google, ah yes, I can Google it".
He then does a Google search, finds the Department of State web page that lists the countries that participate in the visa waiver program, finds my home country listed, stamps my passport and hands it back to me: "Have a nice flight".
Jan 16, 2014, 7:26 pm
#146
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: New Hampshire
Programs: B6, DL, UA
Posts: 184
Arriving back in BOS from LHR.
Agent: What was the purpose of your trip?
Me: Vacation
Agent: What were you doing there?
Me: Played in a rugby tournament, those brits kicked our asses but it was a fun time
Agent: Welcome back to the USA.
Agent: What was the purpose of your trip?
Me: Vacation
Agent: What were you doing there?
Me: Played in a rugby tournament, those brits kicked our asses but it was a fun time
Agent: Welcome back to the USA.
Jan 16, 2014, 11:31 pm
#147
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Chairman, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, GA Pilot
Posts: 3,225
Not my home country but when I went to Ireland for the first time this year I commented that the (green ink) stamp took up half a page in my US passport. The officer said "the smaller the country the bigger the stamp!"
Jan 17, 2014, 12:40 am
#148
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Programs: Delta Silver thanks to Million Miles; Choice Plat., point scrounger everywhere
Posts: 1,595
Okay, like many I'm not answering the original question.
At one time I had a passport photo showing me at about 165 pounds. I entered France weighing more than 200. The lady looked at my passport, looked at me, repeated twice, and then moved her hands up to her mouth to mimic eating and said, "You eat hamburger!"
At one time I had a passport photo showing me at about 165 pounds. I entered France weighing more than 200. The lady looked at my passport, looked at me, repeated twice, and then moved her hands up to her mouth to mimic eating and said, "You eat hamburger!"
Jan 17, 2014, 2:35 am
#149
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,057
You eat hamburger!
They also have burger chains of their own like Quick .
Jan 17, 2014, 3:55 am
#150
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,216
I am pleased to have never interacted with customs re-entering my home country. I just go through the green or blue channel and carry on my way.
As for immigration, you don't normally need to break your stride to pass it at ORK, just join the line of people walking past the Garda and holding open their EU passports.
As for immigration, you don't normally need to break your stride to pass it at ORK, just join the line of people walking past the Garda and holding open their EU passports.